Method and apparatus for non-voice emergency services

ABSTRACT

A method, device, and system for a reporting process. A home monitoring device may be equipped with a camera or some type of sensor. The home monitoring device may generate data based on input from the camera or sensor. A reporting device may receive the data from a home monitoring device. The reporting device may assess this information to determine if an event has occurred. The reporting device may send a message including the data based on the determination. The reporting device may establish a multiway communication between the home monitoring device, the user interface, and the reporting device.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/289,641 filed Oct. 10, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/523,215 filed Oct. 24, 2014, which issued onOct. 11, 2016 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,467,837, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/458,204 filed Apr. 27, 2012, whichissued on Oct. 28, 2014 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,874,072, which claims thebenefit of Provisional Application No. 61/480,710 filed on Apr. 29,2011, and Provisional Application No. 61/556,030 filed on Nov. 4, 2011,the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fullyset forth herein.

BACKGROUND

The Emergency Services community has a need to support multimedia andother forms of emergency services with the same general characteristicsas emergency voice calls (such as, for example, 9-1-1 or 1-1-2) in awireless network. However, Non-Voice Emergency Services (NOVES) are notcurrently fully supported.

NOVES may be an end-to-end session between a user and a Public SafetyAnswering Point (PSAP). For example, FIG. 1 shows a traffic model forestablishment of a NOVES session including a human initiated device incommunication with a PSAP. Examples of non-verbal communications for anemergency services network may include: (1) text messages from citizento emergency services; (2) session based and/or session-less instantmessaging type sessions with emergency services; (3) multi-media (forexample, pictures and video clips) transfer to emergency services eitherduring or after other communications with emergency services; (4) areal-time video session with emergency services; or (5) emergencycommunications to emergency services by individuals with special needs(for example, hearing impaired citizens).

Current proposals for NOVES only support initiation of NOVES from amanned user device to a PSAP. However, other scenarios are possible andadditional procedures and infrastructure are needed.

SUMMARY

A method, device, and system for a reporting process. A home monitoringdevice may be equipped with a camera or some type of sensor. The homemonitoring device may generate data based on input from the camera orsensor. A reporting device may receive the data from a home monitoringdevice. The reporting device may assess this information to determine ifan event has occurred. The reporting device may send a message basedincluding the data based on the determination. The reporting device mayestablish a multiway communication between the home monitoring device,the user interface, and the reporting device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more detailed understanding may be had from the following description,given by way of example in conjunction with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is an example of a traffic model for NOVES;

FIG. 2A is a system diagram of an example communications system in whichone or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented;

FIG. 2B is a system diagram of an example wireless transmit/receive unit(WTRU) that may be used within the communications system illustrated inFIG. 2A;

FIG. 2C is a system diagram of an example radio access network and anexample core network that may be used within the communications systemillustrated in FIG. 2A;

FIG. 3 is an example network configured to provide non-voice emergencyservices (NOVES);

FIG. 4 is an example flow diagram of a procedure for the network of FIG.3 to allow multiple reporters to joining a group NOVES session;

FIG. 5 is an example procedure for a PSAP to take control of a reporterWTRU during a PSAP call;

FIG. 6 shows an example communication system for initiating and relayinga NOVES session to a PSAP;

FIG. 7 is another example procedure for establishing a relayed NOVESsession;

FIG. 8 is an example flow diagram of a procedure for a mobile terminatedNOVES group session;

FIG. 9 is an example flow diagram for a procedure for a PSAP to joinseveral reporter sessions at one time.

FIG. 10 shows an example signal flow diagram for sending a NOVES sessioninitiation request between a reporter and PSAP.

FIG. 11 is an example format for a NOVES Session Initiation Requestmessage;

FIG. 12 is an example signaling diagram of a procedure for a network tonotify a WTRU of the network's support for NOVES; and

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example procedure for establishing andhanding over a NOVES session that uses multiple media streams.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2A is a diagram of an example communications system 100 in whichone or more disclosed embodiments may be implemented. The communicationssystem 100 may be a multiple access system that provides content, suchas voice, data, video, messaging, broadcast, etc., to multiple wirelessusers. The communications system 100 may enable multiple wireless usersto access such content through the sharing of system resources,including wireless bandwidth. For example, the communications systems100 may employ one or more channel access methods, such as code divisionmultiple access (CDMA), time division multiple access (TDMA), frequencydivision multiple access (FDMA), orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA), single-carrierFDMA (SC-FDMA), and the like.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the communications system 100 may include wirelesstransmit/receive units (WTRUs) 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d, a radioaccess network (RAN) 104, a core network 106, a public switchedtelephone network (PSTN) 108, the Internet 110, a Public SafetyAnswering Point (PSAP) 111, and other networks 112, though it will beappreciated that the disclosed embodiments contemplate any number ofWTRUs, base stations, networks, and/or network elements. Each of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be any type of device configured tooperate and/or communicate in a wireless environment. By way of example,the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may be configured to transmitand/or receive wireless signals and may include user equipment (UE), amobile station, a fixed or mobile subscriber unit, a pager, a cellulartelephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a smartphone, a laptop, anetbook, a personal computer, a wireless sensor, consumer electronics,and the like.

The communications systems 100 may also include a base station 114 a anda base station 114 b. Each of the base stations 114 a, 114 b may be anytype of device configured to wirelessly interface with at least one ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d to facilitate access to one or morecommunication networks, such as the core network 106, the Internet 110,and/or the networks 112. By way of example, the base stations 114 a, 114b may be a base transceiver station (BTS), a Node-B, an eNode B, a HomeNode B, a Home eNode B, a site controller, an access point (AP), awireless router, and the like. While the base stations 114 a, 114 b areeach depicted as a single element, it will be appreciated that the basestations 114 a, 114 b may include any number of interconnected basestations and/or network elements.

The base station 114 a may be part of the RAN 104, which may alsoinclude other base stations and/or network elements (not shown), such asa base station controller (BSC), a radio network controller (RNC), relaynodes, etc. The base station 114 a and/or the base station 114 b may beconfigured to transmit and/or receive wireless signals within aparticular geographic region, which may be referred to as a cell (notshown). The cell may further be divided into cell sectors. For example,the cell associated with the base station 114 a may be divided intothree sectors. Thus, in one embodiment, the base station 114 a mayinclude three transceivers, i.e., one for each sector of the cell. Inanother embodiment, the base station 114 a may employ multiple-inputmultiple output (MIMO) technology and, therefore, may utilize multipletransceivers for each sector of the cell.

The base stations 114 a, 114 b may communicate with one or more of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d over an air interface 116, which may beany suitable wireless communication link (e.g., radio frequency (RF),microwave, infrared (IR), ultraviolet (UV), visible light, etc.). Theair interface 116 may be established using any suitable radio accesstechnology (RAT).

More specifically, as noted above, the communications system 100 may bea multiple access system and may employ one or more channel accessschemes, such as CDMA, TDMA, FDMA, OFDMA, SC-FDMA, and the like. Forexample, the base station 114 a in the RAN 104 and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access (UTRA), whichmay establish the air interface 116 using wideband CDMA (WCDMA). WCDMAmay include communication protocols such as High-Speed Packet Access(HSPA) and/or Evolved HSPA (HSPA+). HSPA may include High-Speed DownlinkPacket Access (HSDPA) and/or High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA).

In another embodiment, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102b, 102 c may implement a radio technology such as Evolved UMTSTerrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA), which may establish the air interface116 using Long Term Evolution (LTE) and/or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A).

In other embodiments, the base station 114 a and the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c may implement radio technologies such as IEEE 802.16 (i.e.,Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), CDMA2000,CDMA2000 1×, CDMA2000 EV-DO, Interim Standard 2000 (IS-2000), InterimStandard 95 (IS-95), Interim Standard 856 (IS-856), Global System forMobile communications (GSM), Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution(EDGE), GSM EDGE (GERAN), and the like.

The base station 114 b in FIG. 2A may be a wireless router, Home Node B,Home eNode B, or access point, for example, and may utilize any suitableRAT for facilitating wireless connectivity in a localized area, such asa place of business, a home, a vehicle, a campus, and the like. In oneembodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d mayimplement a radio technology such as IEEE 802.11 to establish a wirelesslocal area network (WLAN). In another embodiment, the base station 114 band the WTRUs 102 c, 102 d may implement a radio technology such as IEEE802.15 to establish a wireless personal area network (WPAN). In yetanother embodiment, the base station 114 b and the WTRUs 102 c, 102 dmay utilize a cellular-based RAT (e.g., WCDMA, CDMA2000, GSM, LTE,LTE-A, etc.) to establish a picocell or femtocell. As shown in FIG. 2A,the base station 114 b may have a direct connection to the Internet 110.Thus, the base station 114 b may not be required to access the Internet110 via the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may be in communication with the core network 106, which maybe any type of network configured to provide voice, data, applications,and/or voice over internet protocol (VoIP) services to one or more ofthe WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d. For example, the core network 106may provide call control, billing services, mobile location-basedservices, pre-paid calling, Internet connectivity, video distribution,etc., and/or perform high-level security functions, such as userauthentication. Although not shown in FIG. 2A, it will be appreciatedthat the RAN 104 and/or the core network 106 may be in direct orindirect communication with other RANs that employ the same RAT as theRAN 104 or a different RAT. For example, in addition to being connectedto the RAN 104, which may be utilizing an E-UTRA radio technology, thecore network 106 may also be in communication with another RAN (notshown) employing a GSM radio technology.

The core network 106 may also serve as a gateway for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, 102 d to access the PSTN 108, the Internet 110, and/orother networks 112. The PSTN 108 may include circuit-switched telephonenetworks that provide plain old telephone service (POTS). The Internet110 may include a global system of interconnected computer networks anddevices that use common communication protocols, such as thetransmission control protocol (TCP), user datagram protocol (UDP) andthe internet protocol (IP) in the TCP/IP internet protocol suite. Thenetworks 112 may include wired or wireless communications networks ownedand/or operated by other service providers. For example, the networks112 may include another core network connected to one or more RANs,which may employ the same RAT as the RAN 104 or a different RAT.

Some or all of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d in thecommunications system 100 may include multi-mode capabilities, i.e., theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, 102 d may include multiple transceivers forcommunicating with different wireless networks over different wirelesslinks. For example, the WTRU 102 c shown in FIG. 2A may be configured tocommunicate with the base station 114 a, which may employ acellular-based radio technology, and with the base station 114 b, whichmay employ an IEEE 802 radio technology.

FIG. 2B is a system diagram of an example WTRU 102. As shown in FIG. 2B,the WTRU 102 may include a processor 118, a transceiver 120, atransmit/receive element 122, a speaker/microphone 124, a keypad 126, adisplay/touchpad 128, non-removable memory 106, removable memory 132, apower source 134, a global positioning system (GPS) chipset 136, andother peripherals 138. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayinclude any sub-combination of the foregoing elements while remainingconsistent with an embodiment.

The processor 118 may be a general purpose processor, a special purposeprocessor, a conventional processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), aplurality of microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in associationwith a DSP core, a controller, a microcontroller, Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGAs)circuits, any other type of integrated circuit (IC), a state machine,and the like. The processor 118 may perform signal coding, dataprocessing, power control, input/output processing, and/or any otherfunctionality that enables the WTRU 102 to operate in a wirelessenvironment. The processor 118 may be coupled to the transceiver 120,which may be coupled to the transmit/receive element 122. While FIG. 2Bdepicts the processor 118 and the transceiver 120 as separatecomponents, it will be appreciated that the processor 118 and thetransceiver 120 may be integrated together in an electronic package orchip.

The transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmit signalsto, or receive signals from, a base station (e.g., the base station 114a) over the air interface 116. For example, in one embodiment, thetransmit/receive element 122 may be an antenna configured to transmitand/or receive RF signals. In another embodiment, the transmit/receiveelement 122 may be an emitter/detector configured to transmit and/orreceive IR, UV, or visible light signals, for example. In yet anotherembodiment, the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured totransmit and receive both RF and light signals. It will be appreciatedthat the transmit/receive element 122 may be configured to transmitand/or receive any combination of wireless signals.

In addition, although the transmit/receive element 122 is depicted inFIG. 2B as a single element, the WTRU 102 may include any number oftransmit/receive elements 122. More specifically, the WTRU 102 mayemploy MIMO technology. Thus, in one embodiment, the WTRU 102 mayinclude two or more transmit/receive elements 122 (e.g., multipleantennas) for transmitting and receiving wireless signals over the airinterface 116.

The transceiver 120 may be configured to modulate the signals that areto be transmitted by the transmit/receive element 122 and to demodulatethe signals that are received by the transmit/receive element 122. Asnoted above, the WTRU 102 may have multi-mode capabilities. Thus, thetransceiver 120 may include multiple transceivers for enabling the WTRU102 to communicate via multiple RATs, such as UTRA and IEEE 802.11, forexample.

The processor 118 of the WTRU 102 may be coupled to, and may receiveuser input data from, the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad 126, and/orthe display/touchpad 128 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) displayunit or organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display unit). The processor118 may also output user data to the speaker/microphone 124, the keypad126, and/or the display/touchpad 128. In addition, the processor 118 mayaccess information from, and store data in, any type of suitable memory,such as the non-removable memory 106 and/or the removable memory 132.The non-removable memory 106 may include random-access memory (RAM),read-only memory (ROM), a hard disk, or any other type of memory storagedevice. The removable memory 132 may include a subscriber identitymodule (SIM) card, a memory stick, a secure digital (SD) memory card,and the like. In other embodiments, the processor 118 may accessinformation from, and store data in, memory that is not physicallylocated on the WTRU 102, such as on a server or a home computer (notshown).

The processor 118 may receive power from the power source 134, and maybe configured to distribute and/or control the power to the othercomponents in the WTRU 102. The power source 134 may be any suitabledevice for powering the WTRU 102. For example, the power source 134 mayinclude one or more dry cell batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd),nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), lithium-ion (Li-ion),etc.), solar cells, fuel cells, and the like.

The processor 118 may also be coupled to the GPS chipset 136, which maybe configured to provide location information (e.g., longitude andlatitude) regarding the current location of the WTRU 102. In additionto, or in lieu of, the information from the GPS chipset 136, the WTRU102 may receive location information over the air interface 116 from abase station (e.g., base stations 114 a, 114 b) and/or determine itslocation based on the timing of the signals being received from two ormore nearby base stations. It will be appreciated that the WTRU 102 mayacquire location information by way of any suitablelocation-determination method while remaining consistent with anembodiment.

The processor 118 may further be coupled to other peripherals 138, whichmay include one or more software and/or hardware modules that provideadditional features, functionality and/or wired or wirelessconnectivity. For example, the peripherals 138 may include anaccelerometer, an e-compass, a satellite transceiver, a digital camera(for photographs or video), a universal serial bus (USB) port, avibration device, a television transceiver, a hands free headset, aBluetooth® module, a frequency modulated (FM) radio unit, a digitalmusic player, a media player, a video game player module, an Internetbrowser, and the like.

FIG. 2C is a system diagram of the RAN 104 and the core network 106according to an embodiment. As noted above, the RAN 104 may employ anE-UTRA radio technology to communicate with the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102c over the air interface 116. The RAN 104 may also be in communicationwith the core network 106.

The RAN 104 may include eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c, though it will beappreciated that the RAN 104 may include any number of eNode-Bs whileremaining consistent with an embodiment. The eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140c may each include one or more transceivers for communicating with theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c over the air interface 116. In one embodiment,the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may implement MIMO technology. Thus,the eNode-B 140 a, for example, may use multiple antennas to transmitwireless signals to, and receive wireless signals from, the WTRU 102 a.

Each of the eNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may be associated with aparticular cell (not shown) and may be configured to handle radioresource management decisions, handover decisions, scheduling of usersin the uplink and/or downlink, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2C, theeNode-Bs 140 a, 140 b, 140 c may communicate with one another over an X2interface.

The core network 106 shown in FIG. 2C may include a mobility managementgateway (MME) 142, a serving gateway 144, and a packet data network(PDN) gateway 146. While each of the foregoing elements are depicted aspart of the core network 106, it will be appreciated that any one ofthese elements may be owned and/or operated by an entity other than thecore network operator.

The MME 142 may be connected to each of the eNode-Bs 142 a, 142 b, 142 cin the RAN 104 via an S1 interface and may serve as a control node. Forexample, the MME 142 may be responsible for authenticating users of theWTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c, bearer activation/deactivation, selecting aparticular serving gateway during an initial attach of the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, and the like. The MME 142 may also provide a control planefunction for switching between the RAN 104 and other RANs (not shown)that employ other radio technologies, such as GSM or WCDMA.

The serving gateway 144 may be connected to each of the eNode Bs 140 a,140 b, 140 c in the RAN 104 via the Si interface. The serving gateway144 may generally route and forward user data packets to/from the WTRUs102 a, 102 b, 102 c. The serving gateway 144 may also perform otherfunctions, such as anchoring user planes during inter-eNode B handovers,triggering paging when downlink data is available for the WTRUs 102 a,102 b, 102 c, managing and storing contexts of the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c, and the like.

The serving gateway 144 may also be connected to the PDN gateway 146,which may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access topacket-switched networks, such as the Internet 110, to facilitatecommunications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c and IP-enableddevices.

The core network 106 may facilitate communications with other networks.For example, the core network 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b,102 c with access to circuit-switched networks, such as the PSTN 108, tofacilitate communications between the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c andtraditional land-line communications devices. For example, the corenetwork 106 may include, or may communicate with, an IP gateway (e.g.,an IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) server) that serves as an interfacebetween the core network 106 and the PSTN 108. In addition, the corenetwork 106 may provide the WTRUs 102 a, 102 b, 102 c with access to thenetworks 112, which may include other wired or wireless networks thatare owned and/or operated by other service providers.

FIG. 3 shows an example network 300 configured to provide non-voiceemergency services (NOVES) sessions to WTRUs 310 c, 310 d. The network300 includes a PSAP 315, an eNodeB 320, and a network PSAP interfacenode, (e.g. a PGW 330). Also shown in FIG. 3 are WTRUs 310 a and 310 b,which do not have a connection to the RAN 320.

FIG. 4 shows an example flow diagram of a procedure 400 for the network300 of FIG. 3 to allow multiple reporters to joining a group NOVESsession. The procedure 400 begins when A 310 a and B 310 b are involvedin an emergency situation, at 410. Next C 310 c, having been made awareof A and B's 310 a, 310 b emergency situation, initiates a group NOVESsession with a PSAP 315, at 420. Once the NOVES session is established C310 c may invite D 310 d and E 310 e to participate in the group NOVESsession and connect to the PSAP, at 430. Alternatively, D 310 d and E310 e may be invited to participate in the group NOVES session by thePSAP 315 (not pictured).

Once C 310C, D 310 d, and E 310 e are all participating in the NOVESsession, each of the reporters may provide information to the PSAP 315.For example, C 310C may talk to the PSAP 315 and describe the emergencysituation using voice, at 440. D 310 d may send video of the emergencysituation to the PSAP 315, at 444. E 310 e may send text messages to thePSAP describing the emergency situation. While these are specificexamples, it should be noted that once a reporter has joined a groupNOVES session, they may provide the PSAP 315 with information using anymedia form available.

Once the group NOVES session has been established, the PSAP 315 may alsoprovide the reporters with specific instructions. For example, the PSAP315 may send a picture to E 310 e with instructions for each of theother reporters 310 c and 310 d to follow, at 450.

It should be noted that in the example of FIG. 4, from the PSAP's pointof view there only exists one NOVES session with multiple sub-sessions.The eNodeB 320 may route traffic for each session to the correspondingNOVES devices. It should also be noted that each reporter, or NOVESdevice, may be capable of joining more than one NOVES session at onetime.

FIG. 5 shows an example procedure 500 for a PSAP to take control of areporter WTRU during a PSAP call. This procedure may be useful when, forexample, the reporter becomes unable to act to provide information dueto a personal safety threat, or due to the loss of control or possessionof the WTRU. The procedure begins when the reporter using a WTRUestablishes a NOVES session with a PSAP during a emergency situation, at510. During this emergency situation, the PSAP may request control ofthe WTRU, or a feature of the WTRU, during the NOVES session, at 520.Optionally, the reporter may consent to the PSAP's request to takecontrol, or the WTRU may fail to respond to the request after a periodof time, at 530. After the PSAP receives consent from the reporter, orthe WTRU fails to respond for a period of time, the PSAP takes controlof at least one feature of the WTRU and uses it as an emergency eventmonitor, at 540.

In one example, the procedure of FIG. 5 may be used to turn the WTRUinto a fake turned-off state such that all the inputs to the device aretemporarily blocked, and the audible sound capabilities of the WTRU maybe turned-off. In this way, the WTRU will look like it is turned-off, ornot functioning.

In this fake turned off state, the WTRU may become a trace device suchthat it may continuously send out location information, or respond toWTRU positioning/location commands. This will allow a PSAP call taker toguide search or recovery actions by the appropriate authorities for theemergency situation.

In another example, the fake turned-off WTRU may be used as an emergencyevent monitor. In this example, the PSAP may take control of the WTRUand engage one or more sensing capabilities on the WTRU to send backaudio, video, or other forms of event information captured on theemergency scene to the PSAP call taker. For example, if a criminal, orbad actor, has taken possession of the WTRU while committing a crime,this capability will allow the PSAP to turn the WTRU into a trace deviceto monitor the emergency, with out letting the criminal know that thedevice is turned on and functioning.

In another example, the procedure of FIG. 5 could be used to enable theA-GPS function on the device to find out the exact location of thedevice. This could be used in the event of a kidnapping or robbery.

It should be noted that in the procedure of FIG. 5, the PSAP and WTRUmay be preconfigured for the PSAP to take control of the WTRU in theevent that a NOVES session is established. This would eliminate the needfor the PSAP to request to take control as happens in 520. It may alsobe possible that the reporter can trigger some of the above describedmodes without the PSAP requesting them. This could be done by a pre-settrigger for example, or the reporter may send an indication to the PSAPfor the triggering of one or more operation modes described above.

It should also be noted that a PSAP may need to obtain the capabilitiesand consent from the WTRU/reporter. This can be done when the NOVESsession is initiated, 510, or in a subsequent message from the reporterdevice to the PSAP. It is also possible that the WTRU may be associatedwith a NOVES subscription or policy. The PSAP may learn of such asubscription when the NOVES session is initiated.

As is described above, at 530, the WTRU may not respond to the PSAP'soriginal request to take control of the device. This could be because,for example, the reporter is in danger and can not be seen manipulatingthe WTRU. Accordingly, the WTRU may be configured such that if the WTRUdoes not respond to the PSAP's request for a period of time, the PSAPmay proceed with taking control of the WTRU.

FIG. 6 shows an example communication system 600 for initiating andrelaying a NOVES session to a PSAP. The system 600 includes a callerWTRU 610, a reporter WTRU 620, and PSAP 630. The caller WTRU 610 may beinvolved in an emergency situation, during a call with the reporter WTRU620, at 650. The caller WTRU 610 may be operated by a human, or may be amonitoring device, such as a home monitoring camera or medicalmonitoring device. Based on observations made during the call, or onreports from the caller WTRU 610, the reporter WTRU 620 may decide toinitiate a NOVES session for the caller WTRU 610, at 655. The reporterWTRU 620 may perform a NOVES initiation and establishment procedure withthe PSAP 630, at 660.

Once the NOVES session has been established between the reporter WTRU620 and the PSAP 630, several different options may be possible. Forexample, the reporter WTRU 620 may forward the previously receivedinformation from the caller WTRU 610 and/or the ongoing call informationto the PSAP 630 as an initial report, 670 a. The WTRU 620 may alsoinform the PSAP 630 that the caller WTRU 610 is still online and provideinformation sufficient for the PSAP 630 to connect directly to the WTRU610, 670 b. The PSAP 630 may also decide to conference in the callerWTRU 610 in an acceptable format for exchanging emergency informationbetween the caller WTRU 610 and the PSAP 630. The reporter WTRU 620 mayalso provide multi-way communication or a conference call to serve as arelay between the PSAP 630, and the caller WTRU 610, 670 c.

After the caller WTRU 610 has joined the NOVES session by one of theabove methods, the PSAP call taker may have direct communication withthe caller WTRU 610, or may perform device manipulation, or remotemonitoring using the caller WTRU 610. In some cases, the PSAP 630, orthe reporter WTRU 620, may need to use an authorization code or otherform of consent agreement in order to take control of the caller WTRU610.

The reporter WTRU 620 may be configured to provide information relatingto other NOVES capabilities for the caller WTRU 610, such as real timetext (RTT) to the PSAP 630. The PSAP 630 may request control of theseadditional NOVES capabilities during the NOVES session. At some pointduring the NOVES session the reporter WTRU 620 may drop off of thesession, while the caller WTRU 610 and the PSAP 620 continue theestablished NOVES session.

FIG. 7 is another example procedure 700 for establishing a relayed NOVESsession. The procedure begins when a reporter device determines that athird device requires a NOVES session, during an ongoing call with thethird device, at 710. The reporter may initiate a NOVES session with aPSAP, while remaining on the call or session with the third device, at720. Once the NOVES session is established the reporter may providepreviously received information regarding the third device's emergencysituation to the PSAP, at 730. At this point, the PSAP may connectdirectly to the third device and continue the NOVES session directlywith the third device, at 740. Alternatively, the reporter may establisha multi-way communication between the third device and the PSAP, at 750.

The concepts of FIGS. 6 and 7 may also be applicable to machine typecommunication (MTC) devices. For example when an MTC handler (a human orMTC-server) determines that an MTC device originated communicationrequires emergency handling, the MTC handler may take a role as a NOVESreporter and initiate a NOVES session to the PSAP. The NOVES reporter inthe initiation signal may indicate the existence of the original MTCdevice. When the NOVES session is set, either the PSAP or the MTChandler/NOVES reporter may set a multiparty communication in either apredetermined or dynamically configured media format in a subsequentemergency reporting and evaluation phase.

FIG. 8 shows an example flow diagram of a procedure 800 for a mobileterminated NOVES group session. The procedure 800 begins when a NOVESreporter observes an emergency situation, at 810. The NOVES reporter maybelong to a special NOVES group, or NOVES service/business group, thatmay jointly possess a special NOVES number for a specific cause ofservice, business, or special emergency information sharing. Forexample, in handling an emergency related to a special medicalsituation, such as special disease symptom a special expert group may beneeded to handle situations that a normal PSAP would not be able tohandle. Upon observing an emergency situation the NOVES reporterestablishes a NOVES session with a NOVES service group member, at 820.In order to initiate this service, the NOVES reporter may call a NOVESnumber to reach directly at least one of the NOVES group members orNOVES devices in a defined group with different NOVES informationtype/form. The NOVES service group member receives NOVES informationfrom the NOVES reporter, and responds to the reporter, at 830. Dependingon the type of emergency and the NOVES group responding, the NOVESservice group member may conference in other members of the NOVESservice group to handle the emergency situation.

In a variation of the procedure 800 of FIG. 8, the NOVES reporter mayinitiate the NOVES session with a PSAP. The PSAP call taker then maydetermine that a specific NOVES service group may be needed. For examplethe PSAP call taker may determine that special technical, medical, orother expert advice may be needed. The PSAP can then connect the ongoingNOVES session with whatever specific NOVES service group is required,including sending the NOVES session to mobile devices of members of theNOVES service group. This would allow the new mobile device of themember of the NOVES service group to share additional informationrelating to the emergency situation. The mobile device of the member ofthe NOVES service group may then communicate with the reporter using oneor more NOVES information types, formats, or forms. The new user of thenew mobile device of the NOVES service group may also take control ofthe reporter's device if proper authorization is obtained from the PSAPand the reporter has consented to such control.

It should be noted that, the procedures described with respect to FIG. 8also enable NOVES service group members and devices to receive otheremergency information from one or more of the defined sources. Forexample NOVES service group members may receive information from apublic warning system on earth quake, tsunamis, fires, floods, war, andother emergency/disaster situations.

FIG. 9 shows an example flow diagram for a procedure 900 for a PSAP tojoin several reporter sessions at one time. In many cases, an emergencysituation may require more than one reporter to facilitate handling ofthe emergency. For example a single explosion could cause both fire andhuman casualties, thereby requiring different PSAPs. The procedure 900begins when a first reporter and a second reporter observe an emergencysituation, at 910. The first reporter establishes a NOVES session with afirst PSAP, at 920. The second reporter establishes a second NOVESsession with a second PSAP, at 930. The first PSAP and the second PSAPthen communicate regarding the first and second NOVES sessions, at 940.The first and second NOVES sessions are then combined and made availableto either PSAP, at 950.

The procedure 900 may be used for authorities to associate piece-wiseinformation into a larger picture to quickly comprehend the overallsituation. It may also be used to deploy monitoring devices and traceforces by taking control of various different devices in the joint NOVESsession. PSAPs may coordinate with each other using a peer-to-peer modelwhere one PSAP solicits the other to see what it is monitoring.

The PSAPs may, alternatively, be coordinated by a temporary groupleader. A temporary group leader will need to have security authorityover the other PSAPs. The inter PSAP communication may be used if afirst PSAP determines that a NOVES session should be rerouted to adifferent PSAP, or if a different PSAP should be conferenced in on thefirst PSAP's NOVES session. For example a first PSAP may determine thata PSAP that is familiar with hazardous materials is needed. The firstPSAP may also determine that a second PSAP is only needed for a specificNOVES sub-session, and accordingly only transfer one NOVES sub-sessionto the second PSAP.

The NOVES session in FIG. 9 may be further expanded by one PSAP invitingother reporters or users in the same location to join the NOVES session.The other reporters or users may then use a variety of media types toreport the extent of the emergency situation using audio, voice, video,or other forms of emergency information.

FIG. 10 shows an example signal flow diagram for sending a NOVES sessioninitiation request between a reporter 1010 and a PSAP 1020. The reporter1010, upon observing an emergency situation, determines that it shouldinitiate a NOVES session, and send a NOVES Session Initiation Requestmessage 1030 to the PSAP 1020.

FIG. 11 shows an example format for a NOVES Session Initiation Requestmessage. The message may include the following fields: NOVES InitiationType field 1110; Initial Signaling Type field 1120; Device Capabilityfield 1130; Preferred Continuing Format field 1140; Location InformationType field 1150; Device Location with respect to Emergency Site field1160; and Reporting Time field 1170. Optionally, a NOVES User PrivilegeLevel field 1180 may be added. Other fields may be added to the messageas is required, and some fields may also be removed from the message.

The NOVES Initiation Type field 1110 may be provided so that the PSAPmay acquire information needed to prepare for subsequent actions.Examples of possible entries for the NOVES Initiation Type field 1110include: direct-initiation; relayed-initiation (meaning a communicationbetween a reporter and another party exists before the request message,for example); joining-a-session; or an initiation-from a PSAP. OtherNOVES Initiation Type field 1110 are also possible.

The Initiation Signaling Type field 1120 may be provided so that thePSAP knows how to treat the initiation request message and how toproceed with the session. Examples of possible entries for theInitiation Signaling Type field 1120 include: voice; regular-message,canned-message, canned message with location, video clip, orempty-message. Other Initiation Signaling Type field 1120 values arepossible.

The Device Capability field 1130 may be provided so that the PSAP maylearn how to manipulate the subsequent communication formats. Examplesof possible entries for the Device Capability field 1130 include:messaging; voice-input; voice output; video input; video output; RTTinput; RTT output; beacon signal output; GPS, other-location-capability;silent-controllable; input-block-able (for example to block part or allexternal inputs to the device under the PSAP command); and fakepower-off (to pretend to be powered off and not able to repower underPSAP command). Other Device Capability field 1130 values are possible.

The Preferred Continuing Format field 1140 may be provided so that thereporter may indicate how to continue the communication with the PSAP.Examples of possible values for the Preferred Continuing Format mayinclude: RTT; message; voice; video; sign language; silent mode; andPSAP control. Other values for the Preferred Continuing Format field1140 values are possible.

The Location Information Type field 1150 may be provided so that thePSAP knows how to interpret and use the location information provided bythe reporter. Examples of possible values for the Location InformationType 1150 field include: GPS; 3GPP location methods such as OTDOA; ornone available. Other Location Information Type values are possible.

The Device Location with Respect to Emergency Site field 1160 may beprovided so that the PSAP knows how to use the location information, orhow to pursue more location information from the device. The value ofthe Device Location with Respect to Emergency Site field 1160 mayinclude for example: static prepared address site (such as in a cannedmessage); static on site (the location indicates the emergency sitewhich is static); mobile with the site (the emergency site is mobile andthe device is mobile with it); and mobile off site (the emergency siteis static, the device is moving away from it). Other Device Locationwith Respect to Emergency Site field 1160 values are possible.

The Reporting Time with respect to Ongoing Emergency field 1170 may beprovided so that the PSAP knows how to handle the emergency in terms ofpriority. Examples of possible values for the Reporting time withrespect to Ongoing Emergency field 1170 include: in the past; juststarted; ongoing, and the like. Other Reporting Time with respect toOngoing Emergency field 1170 values are possible.

The fields describe above with respect to the NOVES SESSION INIATIONREQUEST message may be provided in some other message such as in areporter's runtime input, or some other preconfigured, or preparedinformation, such as a canned message.

Referring back to FIG. 10, when the PSAP 120 receives the NOVES sessionInitiation Request message 1030, the PSAP 120 may act using theinformation described in FIG. 11. Additionally, if the initiationrequest does not include the device location information, or if thedevice is mobile with the emergency site, or the accuracy of theposition needs further verification, the PSAP 120 may perform apositioning procedure to locate the reporting device.

Based on the information provided in the NOVES Session InitiationRequest 1030 message, the PSAP 120 may choose an appropriate format forsubsequent communication with the reporting device/reporter 1010. ThePSAP 120 may do this, for example according to the reporter/deviceindicated format, to a preconfigured scenario, or by the choice of thePSAP call taker.

Based on the information provided in the NOVES Session InitiationRequest message 1030, the PSAP 120 may also perform remote control ofthe device as a reporting/monitoring device for listening (audio),watching (video), tracing (via beacon output signal) while possiblyputting the device in silent and/or no-input mode and/or the fakepower-off state.

Based on the information provided in the NOVES Session InitiationRequest 1030 message, the PSAP 120 may also perform conferencingcapability for the NOVES session for facilitating the multi-partycommunication by joining multiple reporters and/or multiple PSAPStogether in order to handle the emergency situation.

When a NOVES session is requested, the device/user NOVES User PrivilegeLevel field 1180 may be included in the NOVES Session Initiation Requestmessage 1100. Subsequent handling and routing priority may depend onthis NOVES user privilege level value.

Typically a NOVES device has at least a voice capability or textingcapability. All NOVES devices could initiate a NOVES session when anappropriate PSAP number/ID/address is requested by the user/device.These are the ordinary NOVES users and they may only perform theone-reporter-one-PSAP type of emergency service work. These devices mayhave the lowest NOVES user privilege level.

Special NOVES user/service members may also exist who can perform somespecial activity described and/or that may need special registration tothe PSAP services. These devices or members may have higher NOVES userprivilege levels.

FIG. 12 is an example signaling diagram of a procedure 1200 for anetwork 1220 to notify the WTRU 1210 of the network's support for NOVES.The network 1220 sends a Support for NOVES message 1230 to the WTRU1210.

The network 1220 needs to inform the WTRU 1210 about whether NOVES issupported, and if NOVES is supported what features or what differentkinds of media streams that are supported by the network 1220. This isbecause different PSAPs or different networks may only choose to usespecific media streams for a NOVES call.

In another embodiment, the network may inform the WTRU about the supportof NOVES in the EPS network feature support information element. In aWTRU with NOVES capability, the NOVES support indicator may be providedto the upper layers. The upper layers may then take this indication inconsideration when selecting the type of emergency call to place or whentrying to initiate a NOVES session. This information element, or a newinformation element, may also provide the indication to the type ofNOVES media supported by the network e.g. RTT, video emergency call andthe like. The WTRU may then indicate to the user about the availableNOVES services so that the user selects the appropriate media whilemaking an emergency call. These indications may be provided in theAttach accept message, Tracking Area Update message or any other NASdownlink message to the WTRU for example. The NOVES media sessionsupport may change as the WTRU moves into different regions (e.g.different Tracking Area or an area covered by a different PSAP). In thisscenario an updated NOVES support indication may be sent to the WTRU bythe network. These indications may be sent as soon as the networkdetects a WTRU's NOVES information is inconsistent with the NOVESsupport capabilities of the network. This indication from the networkmay not be sent to all the attached WTRUs. In one example, the NOVESsupport capabilities may only be sent if a WTRU indicates that it isNOVES capable

A NOVES indication may also be provided by an IMS network. The WTRU mayinclude its NOVES capabilities in the registration message to the IMSnetwork. These capabilities may include support for NOVES and the typeof media streams supported by the WTRU. The IMS network may thenindicate in the Registration OK message whether or not NOVES issupported by the IMS network and if it is supported then it may alsoinclude the type of media streams supported by the network. When S-CSCFreceives the registration message from the WTRU, it may query the HSS toconfirm that the WTRU has subscribed to NOVES or that the WTRU isauthorized to establish a NOVES call.

The support for NOVES (including support via IMS network) may also bebroadcasted by the network using RRC signaling for example in systeminformation blocks (SIBs). This may enable a WTRU which is not yetregistered to the network to make a NOVES call directly. Also WTRUswithout a USIM may use this information to establish a NOVES session.The SIBs may include the type of media available, and may also restrictnon-attached WTRUs to use a certain kind of media for the emergencycall.

The network may also use Open Mobile Alliance Device Management (OMA DM)procedures or push the information from the access network discoveryselection function (ANDSF) to the WTRU to indicate the support of NOVESservices. In this situation, the network could configure the WTRUs withthese capability in order to show it supports NOVES

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram of an example procedure 1300 for establishingand handing over a NOVES session that uses multiple media streams.First, the reporter establishes a NOVES session with a PSAP usingmultiple media streams, at 1310. One or more media streams, each in adifferent format, may be initially configured and added or removed laterfor a particular NOVES session from a WTRU to a PSAP.

Each of the media streams is assigned a separate NOVES priority value,at 1320. A handover is initiated for all of the media streams, at 1330.The handover is carried out for at least the media stream having thehighest priority value, at 1340. If conditions permit, some or all ofthe remaining media streams may also be handed over.

It should be noted that, each media stream may be transported from theWTRU to the network on a different bearer. This allows for a handoverwhere all bearers may not be successfully handed over to the target RANnode. This also may ensure that the NOVES session continues after thehandover case even though some of the media streams may be dropped bythe target system. When a new media stream is added by the PSAP or theWTRU, a new dedicated bearer may be established for this media stream.The dedicated bearer may be tagged as an emergency bearer so that itreceives preferential treatment by the network.

Each media stream may be assigned an emergency priority value, as in1320. This priority value indicates the importance of that particularmedia stream during the NOVES session. This priority will indicate whatstreams can be deactivated or dropped by the network and what streamscan absolutely not be deactivated. The highest priority media stream orbearers carrying the highest priority media stream may never bedeactivated by the network or dropped by the target RAN node during thehandover. If the bearer carrying the highest priority media stream isdeactivated it may as a result deactivate the ongoing NOVES session.During the handover, the target node may choose to drop the bearer witha lower priority media stream, however the target node will alwaysaccept the bearer carrying, a high, or the highest priority mediastream.

Additionally, during the handover the source may indicate to the targetin the handover request message that there is an ongoing NOVES session.The target will use this information to check that NOVES is supported atthe target node and will try to efficiently execute the handoverprocedure.

Although features and elements are described above in particularcombinations, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that eachfeature or element can be used alone or in any combination with theother features and elements. In addition, the methods described hereinmay be implemented in a computer program, software, or firmwareincorporated in a computer-readable medium for execution by a computeror processor. Examples of computer-readable media include electronicsignals (transmitted over wired or wireless connections) andcomputer-readable storage media. Examples of computer-readable storagemedia include, but are not limited to, a read only memory (ROM), arandom access memory (RAM), a register, cache memory, semiconductormemory devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks and removabledisks, magneto-optical media, and optical media such as CD-ROM disks,and digital versatile disks (DVDs). A processor in association withsoftware may be used to implement a radio frequency transceiver for usein a WTRU, UE, terminal, base station, RNC, or any host computer.

What is claimed:
 1. A reporter device comprising: a processor; atransceiver operatively coupled to the processor and configured toreceive data from a home monitoring device; wherein the transceiver isfurther configured to wirelessly send a message to a user interfaceincluding the received data on a condition that an event is detected bythe reporter device; wherein the processor is further configured toestablish multiway communication between the home monitoring device, theuser interface, and the reporter device.
 2. The reporter device of claim1, wherein the processor is further configured to detect the event basedon the received data.
 3. The reporter device of claim 1, wherein thetransceiver and processor facilitates control of the home monitoringdevice based on instructions received from the user interface.
 4. Thereporter device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device has a cameraand the data is a photograph or a video.
 5. The reporter device of claim1, wherein the monitoring device is a wireless sensor.
 6. The reporterdevice of claim 4, wherein the received data is based on the eventobserved by the monitoring device.
 7. A method, performed by a reporterdevice, comprising: receiving data from a home monitoring device;sending a message including the received data wirelessly to a userinterface on a condition that an event is detected by the reporterdevice; and establishing a multiway communication between the homemonitoring device, the user interface, and the reporter device.
 7. Themethod of claim 7, further comprising detecting, by the reporter device,an event based on the received data.
 8. The method of claim 7, furthercomprising receiving and forwarding instructions to control the homemonitoring device from the user interface.
 9. The method of claim 7,wherein the monitoring device has a camera and the data is a photographor a video.
 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the monitoring device isa wireless sensor.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the received datais based on the event observed by the monitoring device.
 12. A method,performed by a reporter device, comprising: receiving, data from amedical monitoring device; sending a message wirelessly, including thereceived data, to a user interface of a medical provider; andestablishing a multiway communication between the medical monitoringdevice and the user interface of a medical service provider.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device has a camera.
 14. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the monitoring device is a wireless sensor.